Gather at the Marsh

The Marsh is... a community gathering place

Whether it’s a family celebration, wellness retreat, corporate event or social affair... the warm and unique spaces of The Marsh, our exceptional food, catering, and personalized service are seamlessly coordinated to support gatherings of 2 to over 100.

We look forward to planning a memorable event with you. Let’s get started.

Why Gather at The Marsh?

Beautiful Spaces

The Marsh offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor spaces for your event. In addition to our classic meeting spaces, The Moon Terrace dining room is available by advance reservation for private dinners and also catered weekday breakfast meetings.

We provide professional audio and visual equipment, AV tech support, wireless internet, as well as specialty linens and other decorative touches to ensure your event is unlike any other.

Excellent Food and Wine

The Marsh Restaurant offers fresh, whole foods prepared in simply delicious ways. Our chefs focus on seasonality and flavor and, with guidance from our on-site nutritionist, we are also attuned to a myriad of dietary needs. View our extensive Catering Menu below, or speak with us to design a unique menu for your special event.

Expert-led Programs

The Marsh, as a comprehensive “Center for Balance and Fitness”, also offers optional experiences to enhance your gathering with programs, such as professionally-led breaks to stretch, relax and re-focus or engaging classes such as Laughter Yoga or Desk Pilates. We can also fully program a day or weekend retreat for your group. Let us help you design a memorable and completely satisfying gathering!

Access to Our Facility

While at The Marsh, your guests enjoy full access to our facility … Training Center, Spa, regular studio classes, Lap and Therapy Pools, sweeping outdoor decks overlooking a scenic protected wetland, and more. We can help you create a fully-programmed day above and beyond your event. Six Guest Rooms are also available for overnight stays.

Testimonials from Our Clients

“All of the staff at The Marsh we worked with were extremely helpful and flexible. Excellent customer service- everything we needed was provided. Thanks for helping to make our event a success.” – General Mills

“You made the planning a breeze (even fun!) and the actual event went off without a hitch. All of our guests commented on how delicious the food was. You made a very special day even more special with your “can do” attitude, warm customer focus and attention to detail—and we greatly appreciate it!” -Lisa

Fitness Specializations and Interests

Senait Schlachter Stylist

Senait is a highly talented stylist who loves to work on all types of hair. She started her hair design experience in Paris, France where she trained and worked in European hair styling/design. Senait came to the US from Paris to continue training for her passion of working in the beauty industry. She graduated from Regency Institute in Minnetonka. Senait uses her listening skills and styling experience to make every client feel good about how they look with a unique style of their own.

Diane Newcomer Massage Therapist

Certifications:

Licensed Massage Therapist—Minneapolis School of Massage
Member of the American Massage Therapy Association
Advanced training in Swedish, Craniosacral, Neuromuscular, Shiatsu, Sports, Trigger Point and Scalp massages.

Heidi Moon Director of Program Marketing

Director of Program Marketing

Tim Mortenson Operations

General Manager

Carlton Morris Group Fitness

Certifications:

Teacher training with William Prottengeier for 4 years

A 100 hour anatomy teacher training with Julie Gudmestad

Interests:

I love teaching yoga and conveying the benefits of yoga to my students, from the physical to the mental mindful practices that can enhance the quality of their lives. This is a life long endeavor. One I have truly enjoyed.

Sharon Hills-Bonczyk Group Fitness

Certifications:

Kripalu Yoga Teacher, E-RYT 500

Interests:

A yoga practitioner for over 35 years, Sharon offers classes, private sessions, workshops, and leads retreats to paradise settings around the world. In addition to her home studio, she teaches at the Marsh in Minnetonka and at Normandale College. She offers all levels of yoga practice in addition to yoga nidra (deep relaxation), meditation training, restorative, and therapeutic yoga for those with physical issues. She is also an ayurvedic educator and offers guidance in finding balance through lifestyle and nutrition.

Sharon has a masters degree in Community Health Education. Her 15 years in healthcare included supervision of 80 staff and oversight of the Family Services department at Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. She has presented locally and nationally on a variety of health, parenting, and service excellence topics. She previously ran a school district camp clinic in Michigan for 5 years, and taught birth & parenting classes for more than a decade.

Sharon grew up overseas, one of 6 children in a missionary/teacher family, and served in the Peace Corps in the Fiji Islands with her husband of 37 years. Her husband and two of her three children are also yoga teachers.

With knowledge and strong commitment to healthy lifestyle and healing through inner medicine, Sharon delights in introducing people to meditation and yoga that works for them. Her goal as a yoga teacher is to help each person find greater ease, strength, flexibility, and mindfulness in their life; greatly increasing their capacity for joy.

Certifications:

Certified Massage Therapist, 2006

Certified Shiatsu Practitioner, 2009

Certified Aquatic Integration Practitioner, 2010

Specializations and Interests:

Heidi values the merging of eastern and western therapeutic modalities and is interested in mind/body connection with her clients. Because of a dance background, she considers her bodywork sessions more flowing, but can also customize her work to address specific deep tissue conditions. She sees the body as an integrated system and utilizes all of her specialties to create the healing experience. In her free time, Heidi enjoys dancing and an on-going yoga practice. She also loves travel, hiking outdoors in nature, and regularly supports the local arts. She is committed to eating organically and likes to spend quality time with family and friends.

Philosophy: Yoga is intended to be joyful, uplifting and life-enhancing. Everyone can do yoga, and everyone should — especially those who say, “I’m too stiff for yoga.” (Similar to saying, “I’m too hungry for eating.”) My classes are designed to honor each student’s unique set of attributes and abilities, while also challenging him or her to evolve, to feel, to connect.

Gena Fike Group Fitness

Education:

Graduate of MSUM in Moorhead with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and minor in Business Management, Graduate of Herzing College with Associates in applied science for Dental Assisting

Certifications:

National YMCA Group Exercise

Body Pump Certified

willPower and Grace Certified

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

I have been in group fitness for over half my life and I love every minute of it. It is my privilege to be able to lead members in group exercise. I believe passionately that there is some type of exercise for all walks of life and it is my job as a group fitness instructor to help others find that exercise and enjoy it! I take the gift of movement seriously and want to encourage others to do the same.

Rachel E. Soffer Group Fitness

Education:

Rachel earned her B.A. in International Affairs at the American University in Paris, France and The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. She earned her J.D. at William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota and has enjoyed practicing law as a partner at two major Twin Cities law firms, and currently at a law firm where she advises businesses and their management teams in industries including health & wellness, medical technology, software, sustainable products, and natural foods.

Certifications:

Aerobics With Soul® – Rachel is trained by the creator, Maria Nhambu, of this inspiring fitness program, which combines the best of structured aerobic workouts with the creativity of African dance and joyful rhythms that engage body, mind and soul. Rachel is certified to teach a rich variety of 16+ classes ranging from beginner to advanced levels. Rachel has enjoyed teaching with Maria Nhambu at the internationally acclaimed health + wellness spa, Rancho La Puerta in Baja, Mexico for a week each year since 2003.

BollyX® – Rachel is trained by founder Shahil Patel to teach BollyX®, a Bollywood-inspired dance-fitness program that combines dynamic choreography with music from around the world.

Willpower & Grace®– Rachel is trained by founder Stacy Lei Krauss to teach The willPower Method® Phase II, she is also certified to teach willPower & Grace Phase I and willpower Barre.

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Rachel is an enthusiastic health and fitness leader who loves inspiring people to enjoy exercising body, mind and spirit. She has over 20 years of experience teaching mind-body fitness classes in numerous Twin Cities locations and is passionate about sharing the joy and healing power of dance and exercise. Rachel loves yoga, hiking, canoeing, bicycling, skiing, sailing, star-gazing, dancing, world music, travel, tea and enjoying life with family and friends.

Certifications:

CPR

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Beth has been a dancer since childhood and discovered the joy of dancing Nia in 2004. She has been teaching Nia full time since 2013 and most recently received her Nia Brown Belt in July 2016. She loves the variety of energies, movements and the increased flexibility, agility, and ease in her body, mind and spirit that Nia brings. Beth’s purpose in life is to share the healing power of movement with women and men of all ages. Through movement we find health!

Liz Anema Group Fitness Director

Education:

Liz graduated from the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, BS in communications and a minor in Human Development and Family Studies

Certifications:

IDEA Group Fitness,

NASM Personal Training

Kripalu Yoga 200 Hour

Yoga Therapy 300 Hour

Nia White Belt

Taijifit

Aqua Kriya Yoga

Resiliency Training 9 month program with Henry Emmons

MBSR – Meditation as Medicine and study with Janice Marturano

BodyPump certified, willPower in Grace, Barre, Bolly X

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Liz is passionate about moving the body 3 dimensionally whether dancing, teaching yoga or gently moving into wellness. Liz also loves to share the power and passion of mindfulness in the practice of meditation. She believes in whole body health starting with the breath and moving into the love for one’s whole self-experiencing life. Never stop moving and being in the now

Ruth Kenefick Group Fitness

Education:

University of Minnesota, MBA in Journalism

Certifications:

ACE Certified: Group Fitness Instructor

Les Mills BodyPump

R-HYI 200

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Have had the privilege of teaching CardioBounce for over 25 years and don’t anticipate any time soon to stop bouncing! I love the community that develops in Group Fitness classes. It is an honor to see the hearts, minds, and bodies of participants change as they embrace health and fitness.

Philosophy: Yoga is intended to be joyful, uplifting and life-enhancing. Everyone can do yoga, and everyone should — especially those who say, “I’m too stiff for yoga.” (Similar to saying, “I’m too hungry for eating.”) My classes are designed to honor each student’s unique set of attributes and abilities, while also challenging him or her to evolve, to feel, to connect.

Ryan Ford Exercise Specialist

Education:

B.S. in Kinesiology from the University of Minnesota

Certifications:

NSCA

First Aid/CPR

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Ryan has been an Exercise Specialist here at The Marsh for over 10 years. He believes in the mind body approach to achieve a balanced lifestyle. From injury prevention to weight loss goals, Ryan has a wide range of progressive programs he utilizes with his clients. Ryan graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Kinesiology and also specializes in proper gait training and biomechanics of the human body. While at Minnesota, Ryan was an All-American runner for the Golden Gophers and has been a Cross-Country and Track coach at Eden Prairie High School since 2005 where he has coached numerous state champions. Besides running and being a coach, Ryan enjoys being active and enjoying the outdoors. When he is not at The Marsh you can find him hiking, fishing, and being the very best “daddy” to his 2 year old daughter.

Ryan also leads the Aqua Jogging program here at The Marsh and teaches the high intensity class Marsh X.

Peter Elsham Exercise Specialist

Education:

Certifications:

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Peter brings 6 years of personal training, strength conditioning and group exercise experience to The Marsh. Peter grew up playing many sports, taking every gym class offered at Hopkins High School (ask him about gym student of the year) and pursing multiple intramural championships at UMD. Peter is passionate about movement and exercise and finds great joy in working with his clients to set goals and then crush them! Whether you are looking to increase your functional strength or take seconds off of your race time, Peter will listen to your needs and bring energy and knowledge to your workouts. He has experience within a therapy setting for pre and post joint replacement and regaining function and confidence. Peter lives in Plymouth with his adventure loving wife Leah and dog Puck. He loves challenging himself in triathlons, half marathons and bike rides around the state. Peter will empower you to find your best self. Let’s get started.

Certifications:

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

When it comes to exercise, there’s nothing but benefits, if done correctly. Nick believes this and puts it to practice every day with clients, members and his own life. He enjoys teaching, biking, powerlifting, Olympic lifting, and all sports. Coming from a rehab background, he has experience with a wide variety of orthopedic and neurological conditions as well as athletes. We can all be better, and he can help you on the road to reach your goal.

Nancy Lovaas Exercise Specialist

Education:

Associates of Science -Physical Therapist Assistant from St. Catherine University

Certifications:

NASM Certified Personal Trainer

Youth Certification Specialization

Fitness Specializations/Interests:

Nancy believes that staying active is very important at every age for an individual’s overall health and well being and preventative care. Nancy can help you on your health journey, specifically if you are preparing for surgery or recovering from a procedure or transitioning from rehabilitation towards an independent fitness program.

Nancy enjoys spending family time with her husband of over 20 years and her 2 children, participating in HIIT classes for exercise and being outdoors. Being active and living a healthy lifestyle is important to Nancy to demonstrate being a positive role model to her kids.

Kathryn Hernke Nutritionist

Education:

Bachelors in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of Minnesota

Masters in Nutrition from Rosalind Franklin University of Health Sciences

Certifications:

Kathryn did her clinical work in medical centers in Indiana and Texas and, closer to home, at North Memorial Medical Center. She also developed the Nutrition Department at the Visiting Nurse Association of Kansas City in home care dietetics.

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Kathryn believes nutrition absolutely makes a difference in health, with new information on the gut microbiome redefining what we know. She recognizes we have unique experiences and perspectives impacting our food choices, and that the job of a registered and licensed dietitian / nutritionist is to utilize food within lifestyle parameters to impact health. At The Marsh, no specific diets are promoted, and no supplements are sold. Our nutrition programming is based on real food, tailored to your needs and your lifestyle.

Kathryn is active in the community, especially as a parent volunteer for the Hopkins Public School District. She, her husband Peter, and their three children live in Minnetonka.

Jennifer Loeffler Exercise Specialist

Education:

Certifications:

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Jennifer specializes in working with people after they have suffered a heart attack or have had any sort of cardiovascular intervention. She is also good with people who are either new to exercise or are looking to do more functional training. She believes in setting goals with clients, whether they want to improve their daily activities, lose weight or any other goals a person may have. She also has experience with personal training and teaching classes in the pool. Outside of personal training she enjoys teaching indoor cycling and our higher intensity classes. Outside of work she enjoys lifting, running and all sports.

Diane Pattridge Exercise Specialist and Water Safety Instructor

Education:

Certifications:

Health Fitness Specialist (American College of Sports Medicine) since 1992

Level I Kettlebell Instructor (KBC)

Keiser Cycling Instructor

American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor (WSI)

Aquatics Exercise Association (AEA) Instructor

CPR/First Aid

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Diane has over 25 years of experience as an Exercise Specialist and Water Safety Instructor. She enjoys people of all ages and abilities but prefers working with older adults in a fitness setting. She specializes in land and aquatic training and has been teaching children’s swimming lessons for over two decades. She enjoys swimming, xc skiing, yoga, and biking during her free time.

Brenda Steger Exercise Specialist

Education:

Certifications:

NETA Personal Trainer

NETA Group Fitness, Indoor Cycling

AADP Holistic Health Coach

YogaFit Yoga Certification

American Heart Association CPR/AED

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Brenda’s passion for living optimally and wanting to help others who want the same is the reason she started fitness coaching. Teaching about the important benefits of exercise and healthy habits is a natural extension of her desire to help others. As a result of her personal efforts, 20+ years of experience in the fitness and wellness industry, and her education she feels that she is at her best and excited to help others reach their goals.

She loves working with motivated individuals who want a well-rounded, sustainable and practical approach to good health. Therefore she builds a strong and healthy wellness foundation using a holistic approach in her teaching and coaching. She loves to encourage her clients to go safely beyond boundaries to uncover hidden strength and potential that will take them to the next level. Her goal for every workout is that you leave feeling challenged and successful!

Some fun facts about Brenda: She is a native Minnesotan who loves the seasons and enjoys local restaurants and shopping, and a variety of events from sports to the arts. Her favorite hobby is cooking. She likes making all kinds of recipes and enjoys finding creative ways to make meals as healthy as possible. When vacationing, Brenda likes to plan trips that involve both relaxation and activity. Her two most memorable experiences were traveling to Casperia, Italy, for a yoga retreat and hiking to the top of Mt. Yale in Colorado.

Andrew Xotta-Dickson Exercise Specialist

Education:

The College of St Scholastica, Bachelor of Science – Exercise Physiology

Certifications:

CPR/AED

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Andrew has a passion for fitness and believes that finding time for yourself and your health should be your top priority. With his passion for helping others and his firm understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the body he will establish a program that challenges, empowers and drives you towards your personal fitness goals. He has experience working with a wide variety of populations through many different fitness domains including weight loss, strength and conditioning, injury prevention and general fitness. Andrew grew up in the outdoors of Australia being very active and loves to play soccer, tennis and golf in his spare time.

Specializations and Interests:

Since 1981, Thomas Stout has brought therapeutic massage, relaxation, and wellness to many thousands of satisfied clients, from professional athletes and dancers to busy parents and working professionals. He offers a range of services, has been trained in numerous modalities and can tailor his repertoire for each client. Whatever your body shape or size Thomas can customize your session to meet your needs. Married for 25 years and with 2 sons in college, he now has time to pursue his interests in long distance cycling, wilderness camping and enjoys taking his dog for long walks.

Tami Koehler Group Fitness Instructor

Education:

Master of Arts in Holistic Health Studies

Certifications:

AEA, ACE, Yoga, Pilates, Body-Pump, Silver Sneakers

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

A specialty of Tami’s is Thai Bodywork. Outside of work she loves books and cooking. She enjoys healthy recipes and alternative nutrition ideas. Tami has been a fitness professional for 20 years, and at The Marsh since 2014.

Specialties:

I enjoy my Marsh family immensely , the staff and members. It is a joy to work here and I want to make your classes fun and impactful. A special thanks to all of our class participants who join us in group fitness classes, I’m always so happy to see you!

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Nicola has been creating programming to enlivens the human spirit and heighten self-awareness for over fifteen years in both business and personal health settings. Providing Watsu Aquatic Bodywork is especially dear to Nicola’s heart as she’s witnessed countless number of people gain significant healing and pain relief from receiving Watsu sessions. Nicola is grateful to the Marsh where her playful, exploratory approach to her guiding mission of being a force for good is supported and lived out each week in classes, where every student is an inspiration and a teacher in their own right.

Certifications:

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, CTRS

Certified Watsu and Aquatic Integration Practitioner

Certified Shiatsu Massage Practitioner

CPR/1st Aid certified

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Mary has been working as a manager, instructor and practitioner in the field of Aquatics since 1987. She has 10 years of experience in Pool Management and prefers working within the modality of warm water therapy. With 18 years of experience as an aquatics specialist at the Courage Center in Golden Valley, she is now building a comprehensive aquatic therapy/wellness program at The Marsh. Her work in the water and on the table provides a safe environment for those addressing chronic pain conditions and regulating the nervous system as a result of trauma. Mary loves the outdoors, vigorous exercise, and sharing with like-minded friends who value the beauty of nature and healthy lifestyles. She enjoys spending time with family in all parts of the country including her sisters’ lake homes in western New York.

Experience:

In the industry: Teaching Yin, Beginning & Restorative Yoga for over four years in several studios. Somatic yoga over two years. Aqua Yoga over three years.

At The Marsh: Aqua, Gentle & Restorative Yoga.

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Judy specializes in mindfulness integrating gentle movement with breath and meditation. She retired from a long successful business career, and is now dedicating her time and energy to continued learning. Her goal is to continue to share that knowing and learning with others in group class and private settings.

Certifications:

Certified Aquatics Instructor through AEA

CPR/AED certified

Specializations and Interests:

Dianna has been working as a water fitness instructor for 10 years. She has also been working as a studio instructor teaching Qi Gong and Tai Chi for 7 years. She has been working as a guest services representative for 9 years working with front desk activities including phone work, class check-in, and hotel reservation responsibilities. She has also been working more recently as Manager on Duty for The Marsh on weekends. Dianna loves being outside, getting together with friends and spending lots of time with her daughters and 3 grand-daughters.

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

Candy has been with The Marsh for 28+ years. Candy’s tenure in the fitness industry has earned her on of the most sought after Exercise Specialists at The Marsh. She loves working with all age ranges- from children learning karate to seniors working through rehabilitation. Candy likes to keep all training fresh and incorporates all the different equipment, classes and programs into her sessions and utilizes the inside and outside areas of The Marsh. Clients learn how to use many aspects of the fitness center and enjoy the beautiful outdoors surrounding The Marsh. When not at The Marsh, you can find Candy enjoying her grandchildren.

Evan Strewler, M.S. Director of Health & Fitness

Education:

Certifications:

USAW: Level One Olympic Lifting Coach

Level One Kettlebell Concepts Coach

Fitness Specializations and Interests:

As Director of Health and Fitness, Evan develops new programs with the Marsh Programming team and leads our Exercise Specialists and trainers. He also continues to serve as a personal trainer to Marsh members, assuring that they have a comprehensive orientation to Training Center programs. Evan provides cardiovascular assessments and metabolic testing and is a certified Level 1 Kettlebell Coach and Level 1 Olympic Lifting Coach.

Evan’s previous experience includes: Metabolic Specialist at Optum Health Performance; Personal Training Director at LA Fitness; Strength Coach, Wayzata High School; and Support Professional for Residential Services where he assisted clients with mental illness or traumatic brain injury to ensure quality of life and independent living. He brings deep experience in aerobic testing, anaerobic power assessments, cardiovascular assessments, metabolic testing and exercise prescription development. Evan holds a Master’s of Science Degree in Exercise Physiology from the College of St. Scholastic in Duluth, MN. A native of Superior, Wisconsin, Evan currently lives in Edina.

Evan enjoys spending his free time outdoors, whether it be while on a bike saddle or in a duck blind. He spends most weekends in motion, on one of his XX bikes, in a park with kettlebells, or in the woods up north. He has competed in powerlifting and enjoys pushing his body in new and different ways. He is currently exploring all the benefits of incorporating more Olympic movements into his training. Evan believes whole-heartedly in promoting a well-rounded lifestyle and incorporating movement whenever possible into our often sedentary lifestyles.

In addition to anything exercise related, if you ask him about hunting dogs, the Green Bay Packers or the many components of a bicycle you’ll really get him talking!